the interesting bits:. muscles are apparently larger, but i've recently started using hypertrophy rep ranges for the first time in 18 months. creatine may have assisted - felt able to tough things out more to grind out reps - placebo/more fuel? hard to tell. when not using protein supplements, i become incredibly hungry, as in eat-everything-i-see-hungry. like right now. do you need that? i'll buy another one for you. thanks. <munch>. body shape has changed. i'm currently slightly heavier than i was (~ 88-89kg) 90 days ago with reduced waist size (old clothes fit properly - can wear suits from 9 years ago - belts require new holes). training? yes protein? i think the supps have helped.. it made me a wind farm. sometimes a very productive one. in inconvenient situations. like when travelling in lifts. with sound effects. "was that a trumpet fanfare? is there a King in the building? there must be.". winter is going to change my bodyweight and shape slightly but the additional protein each day has helped manage appetite and provided adequate fuel. this has noticably improved the speed of skin healing ( i scrape myself with bars a bit), nail growth and (euphemistically, for some reason) - "increased production quality in the #2 department".

it's mainly the last set of reasons i'll be keeping this stuff in my diet. these 90 days have been very successful. i'm not certain of the contribution to the athletic aspects of my training routine, but i'm highly confident protein supplementation is making rounding out my diet much easier, helping me not be (such a) garbage guts and assisting with repair.

o: if you followed my journal over the 11 months you'd be reasonable to observe I had a training problem: too many routines, activities all over the place, not enough intensity/adherence/ex consistency. i agree. my initial program was based on a preparation program for professional soldiers preparing for a selection course. to be successful the program needs to be undertaken professionally. (ie: as a job). i made minimal progress for many months. Due to leaving a job I could train 'professionally' for 3 months, and this stuff still was too much. L: keep routines focused on one part of the fitness continuum unless you're training for a living.

Not only that, soldiers train under the threat of constant yelling (24X7 Personal Trainer) or rather moral support, all night clean up in the barracks, having all of their money taken away, and at some times, a dishonorable discharge. They are also taken to eat tons of food for every traditional meal and forced to get their sleep in. At least during basic and other specialized training camps such as Airborne, NCO training, etc. Not to mention, having the pent up frustration of not legally being able to be with a woman during that time.

A stomach bug interrupted cycle 4 this year, so I took several extra days off to recover. Then, an opportunity to run in a 10k corporate fundraiser for Diabetes appeared so I'm calling cycle 4 closed early. Cycle 5 is a 55 day running program. It appears I need to change things up because I have suspended my gym membership for the second time in 6 years. My goal is to finish, I will be pleased if I make 50mins/10k and happy with 45min/10k.

3 days out update:started my taper early. my training program varied from my previous post, with less emphasis on intervals and more on 'running' ie: moving without stopping at reasonable pace. It'll be interesting to see how I handle an uninterrupted run. I averaged three sessions a week. I'll have a gentle walk today or tomorrow to loosen up, and then it's on. I'm anticipating a 54min finish. And the run is at the site of the 2000 Olympics, which I hope is scenic.

race day.10km in 45m22s. I think my 5km time was around 22m. 25th place out of 138, 12th of 29 in the 30-39 age category.I didn't run or walk more than 800m in the last week despite my intentions to do so. My taper was more of a dead stop.

The run was not as scenic as I'd hoped. It was a 5km course requiring two laps for the 10km participants. The course was held outside of the Olympic Stadium in the area surrounding an outlying car park, an area bordered by a four lane ring road. The entire site was an industrial area before the 2000 Olympics. Very large chemical companies, for reasons known clearly to them, required expansive areas of marshland near their plants and the Parramatta river. For. Some. Purpose. The 10km run, and subsequent drive home, featured many 'scenic' redeveloped urban 'waterscapes' visible on the other side of heavy gauge fencing. During the run I experienced many unique odors. This was the site of the 2000 Olympic village, the Olympic athletics stadium and is now a vibrant residential and sports area.

Some observations, given this was my first 'race', not "fun" run.

1. Training by running 12kms with a backpack over rougher terrain and hills helped. Especially towards the end of the run. I was entirely outpaced by many runners until a hill appeared and I was then able to regain lots of lost ground. People: Train on inclines.

2. While not a high end event there were serious runners in attendance. The overall winner was ~1.5kms (5min of my time ahead) at the 5km mark, and ~2.5kms head (10min) ahead at the finish.

3. Due to the event, the race's and sport's age profile (I surmise), my time made me competitive in the < 30 years age division (3rd place was 44min) but was entirely out of the running (boom boom thankyouverymuch) in my 30-39 category (category and race winner: 35min!). Middle distance runners can start becoming accomplised in their 30's and carry on into their 40's. The winning times were similarly fast in the 40-49 and 50-59 categories as well.

4. I wish I'd practiced running with sunglasses. My philosophy of 'don't do anything new in race week' nearly worked. My shoes, socks, t-shirt, shorts and warmup all were appropriate. BUT. I'll be dashed if I'm going to run in 8am sun without sunglasses again. And I couldn't find an easy way of dodging the last minute work yum cha dim sum lunch on Friday. As a known consumer of large amounts of food my companions were confused by my minimal and carbohydrate focused lunch. I also had to avoid things where I couldn't see the ingredients for fear of a last minute stomach bug. All of the tasty things are wrapped in flour pastry.

5. Starting at the back of the pack is silly if you're a moderate runner. I realised I am now a moderate runner. My first 2kms was like dodgems or frogger. This was a bit of fun, but it meant that runners with lower paces who stood closer to the front were getting away from me.

6. Having family at the race to cheer me on was very good.

7. I'm not sure if carbohydrate loading is actually necessary but it's really nice to be able to eat lots of pasta when there's salmon involved.

8. I now have no idea what to do with my gym membership. I've enjoyed 55 days without strength work.

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